INVISTA site to receive $10 million upgrade

New natural gas boiler system to improve site’s competitiveness

Waynesboro, Va. - 28 Nov., 2012 - Through a $10 million investment, INVISTA will install two natural gas boilers at its manufacturing site in Waynesboro. The new boilers will replace three existing coal boilers, which produce steam needed for the site’s spandex fiber manufacturing process. As a result of the investment, the natural gas boilers will reduce the site’s annual air emissions by approximately 70 percent, including sulfur dioxide, while increasing the efficiency of the site’s energy operations.

“This investment plays a vital role in our long-term operations in Waynesboro, which is significant news for our community,” said Stuart Carter, INVISTA Waynesboro site manager. “Our leadership made this investment in support of our continued efforts to improve our competitiveness in this increasingly global industry, and that is a good sign for our business and community.”

While other major U.S. spandex facilities ceased operations in 2012, INVISTA’s investment into Waynesboro demonstrates the company’s commitment to being a long-term, profitable global spandex supplier.

“In addition to our long-term goal to continue producing spandex fiber for the customers we serve, our corporate philosophy is to make the most efficient use of resources, and that includes improving energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact,” added Carter. “During the last 12 to 15 months, our talented workforce has made significant improvements in productivity and manufacturing effectiveness.”

The new boilers are made by the Virginia-based company English Boiler and Tube. This upgrade will also position the site to meet the future boiler MACT (maximum achievable control technology) regulations. Project activities will begin immediately, and the boilers are expected to be operational by the end of 2013.

Carter noted that while this investment will not add new jobs to the site, it will involve a significant amount of construction effort, which he expects to help the local economy.

INVISTA’s Waynesboro, Va., manufacturing site began operations in 1929. Located on approximately 400 acres, today the facility produces LYCRA® fiber for apparel and LYCRA HyFit™ fiber for personal hygiene products. The site also includes the company’s global research and development center for spandex, and is credited as the birthplace to spandex.